Color filter, production process thereof, and liquid crystal panel

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a color filter equipped with a plurality of colored light-transmitting areas on its base, wherein the light-transmitting areas are colored with ink dots, and each of the colored portions is continuously formed over a plurality of the light-transmitting areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a color filter suitable for use incolor liquid crystal displays used in color televisions, personalcomputers, and the like, a production process thereof, and a liquidcrystal panel, and particularly to a production process of a colorfilter for liquid crystals making good use of an ink-jet recordingtechnique. The present invention also relates to a color filter forliquid crystals, which is produced by using the ink-jet recordingtechnique, and a liquid crystal panel equipped with the color filter.

2. Related Background Art

With the advancement of personal computers, particularly, portablepersonal computers in recent years, the demand for liquid crystaldisplays, particularly, color liquid crystal displays tends to increase.It is however necessary to reduce the cost of the color liquid crystaldisplays for further spreading them. There is an increasing demand forreduction in the cost of color filters particularly given much weightfrom the viewpoint of the cost.

Various methods have heretofore been attempted for meeting the abovedemand while satisfying properties required of the color filters.However, no method satisfying all the required properties is yetestablished. The individual methods will hereinafter be described.

The first method oftenest used is a dyeing process. In the dyeingprocess, a sensitizing agent is added to a water-soluble polymericmaterial, which is a material for dyeing, to sensitize the polymericmaterial. The thus-sensitized polymeric material is applied on a glassbase. After the coating film thus formed is patterned in the desiredform by a photolithography process, the glass base on which the coatingfilm has been patterned is immersed in a dye bath to obtain a coloredpattern. This process is repeatedly performed three times to formcolored layers of red (R), green (G) and blue (B).

The second method oftener used is a pigment dispersing process which hasbeen replacing the dyeing process in recent years. In this process, alayer of a photosensitive resin in which a pigment has been dispersed isfirst formed on a base and then subjected to patterning, therebyobtaining a pattern of a single color. This process is repeatedlyperformed three times to form three colored layers of R, G and B.

As the third method, there is an electrodepostion process. In thisprocess, a transparent electrode is first patterned on a base. The baseis then immersed in an electrodeposition coating fluid containing apigment, resin, electrolytic solution and the like to electricallydeposit the first color. This process is repeatedly performed threetimes to form colored layers of R, G and B. Finally, the colored layersare calcined.

As the fourth method, there is a printing process in which threecoatings of red, green and blue colors, each comprising a thermosettingresin and a pigment dispersed therein, are separately coated by repeatedprinting, and the resin to become a colored layer is then thermoset toform the colored layers. It is general to form a protective layer on theoutermost colored layer in each process.

The need of repeating the same process three times to form the coloredlayers of R, G and B is common to these processes. Therefore, the costis necessarily increased. There is also offered a problem that a yieldis reduced as the number of processes increases.

In the third process by the electrodeposition, besides, formablepatterns are limited. It is hence difficult to apply this process to aTFT color liquid crystal display in the existing technique. The fourthprocess involves a drawback that resolution and smoothness are poor, andis hence unfit to form a fine-pitch pattern.

In order to improve these drawbacks, Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open Nos. 59-75205, 63-235901, 1-217302 and 4-123005 each describeprocesses for producing a color filter by using an ink-jet system.

These processes are different from the above-described conventionalprocesses. In these processes, coloring solutions (hereinafter referredto as inks) separately containing coloring matters of R, G and B arejetted out from respective nozzles on a filter base, and the inks aredried on the filter base to form colored layers. According to theseprocesses, the formation of the individual colored layers of R, G and Bcan be performed at once, and moreover the amount of the inks to be usedis saved. Therefore, they have effects of enhancing productivity to agreat extent and reducing the cost.

However, these conventional processes have involved a major problem intechnique that since pixels are formed by jetting out droplets of theliquid inks, it is difficult to apply the ink droplets to the desiredpositions of ink-droplet impact, for example, in the vicinity of thecenters of the respective pixels of R, G and B, with precision, and so aproblem of positional deviation in ink dots is easy to arise. When suchpositional deviation in ink dots occurs, a so-called blank area-shiningphenomenon (a phenomenon that a transparent base looks brightly shiningat its exposed position) occurs at a portion of a light-transmittingarea, which is covered with no colored layer. Therefore, the definitionof an image formed through the resulting color filter is reduced to agreat extent. There is thus a demand for rapid establishment of a methodfor solving such a problem.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-142407 describes a processfor forming a color filter, in which pixel-forming materials are flowedin the form of a fluid out of minute nozzles, as a technique ofconcurrent multicolor printing. In such a process, however, coloredstripes to be formed from the pixel-forming materials are continuouslyflowed out of the minute nozzles, so that the width and thickness of thecolored stripe are varied according to variation in the outflow rate. Inparticular, when the variation in the outflow rate is wide, the coloredstripe is torn off in the course of the outflow, so that theabove-described blank area-shining phenomenon occurs. In order toprevent the tearing of the colored stripe, this method requires to lowerthe outflow rate of the pixel-forming material, so that the productivityalso becomes poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a colorfilter having brightly colored light-transmitting areas free of theoccurrence of a blank area-shining phenomenon due to the deviatedink-droplet impact even when the color filter is formed by an ink-jetrecording method, and a production process thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a productionprocess of a color filter, which satisfies both required properties metby the conventional processes, such as heat resistance, solventresistance and resolution, and ink-jet recordability, and moreoverpermits the shortening of processes to reduce its cost, a color filterproduced by this process and having high reliability, and a liquidcrystal panel equipped with the color filter.

The above objects can be achieved by the present invention describedbelow.

According to the present invention, there is thus provided a colorfilter equipped with a plurality of colored light-transmitting areas onits base, wherein the light-transmitting areas are colored with inkdots, and each of the colored portions is continuously formed over aplurality of the light-transmitting areas.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a process forproducing a color filter by ejecting droplets of an ink from an orificeby an ink-jet system to apply a colorant onto a base havinglight-transmitting areas, thereby coloring the light-transmitting areas,which comprises applying the ink droplets in such a manner that acolored portion is continuously formed over a plurality of thelight-transmitting areas.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a processfor producing a color filter by ejecting droplets of an ink from anorifice by an ink-jet system to apply a colorant onto a base havinglight-transmitting areas, thereby coloring the light-transmitting areas,which comprises the steps of applying a hydrophilic polymeric compoundonto the base, and applying the ink droplets onto the base tocontinuously form a colored portion over a plurality of thelight-transmitting areas.

According to the present invention, there is still further provided acolor filter provided with colored portions separately colored in red,green and blue colors in the form of stripes, wherein colormixing-preventing walls are provided between the colored portions ofdifferent colors.

According to the present invention, there is yet still further provideda process for producing a color filter by ejecting inks using an ink-jetsystem to separately color a base in red, green and blue colors in theform of stripes, which comprises the steps of:

(1) forming a layer of a resin composition, the wettability by inkand/or the ink absorptivity of which is lowered at its light-exposedportions by a light irradiation treatment or light irradiation and heattreatments, on the base;

(2) subjecting the resin layer to patterned exposure in the form ofstripes or a matrix;

(3) ejecting the inks using the ink-jet system to separately colorunexposed portions of the resin layer in red, green and blue colors; and

(4) setting the colored portions of the resin layer by the irradiationand/or the heat treatment.

According to the present invention, there is yet still further provideda process for producing a color filter by ejecting inks using an ink-jetsystem to separately color a base in red, green and blue colors in theform of stripes, which comprises the steps of:

(1) forming a layer of a resin composition, the wettability by inkand/or the ink absorptivity of which is improved at its light-exposedportions by a light irradiation treatment or light irradiation and heattreatments, on the base;

(2) subjecting the resin layer to patterned exposure in the form ofstripes or a matrix;

(3) ejecting the inks using the ink-jet system to separately color theexposed portions of the resin layer in red, green and blue colors; and

(4) setting the colored portions of the resin layer by the heattreatment.

According to the present invention, there is yet still further provideda color filter produced by any one of the processes described above.

According to the present invention, there is yet still further provideda liquid crystal panel comprising any one of the color filters describedabove, a base provided in an opposing relation with the color filter anda liquid crystal compound charged in a space between both bases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B each illustrate production processes of a color filteraccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B each illustrate productional examples of color filterspoor in matching of an ink with a surface of a base.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional structure of a liquid crystal panel inwhich the color filter according to the present invention has beenmounted.

FIGS. 4A through 4F illustrate another production process of a colorfilter for liquid crystals according to the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are plan views of color filters for liquid crystalsaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B each illustrate coloring methods by an ink-jet system inthe production of color filters for liquid crystals according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 7A through 7F illustrate a further production process of a colorfilter for liquid crystals according to the present invention.

FIGS. 8A through 8F illustrate a still further production process of acolor filter for liquid crystals according to the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are plan views of color filters for liquid crystalsaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 10A through 10E illustrate a yet still further production processof a color filter for liquid crystals according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another liquid crystal panel inwhich the color filter according to the present invention has beenmounted.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a further liquid crystal panel inwhich the color filter according to the present invention has beenmounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described indetail by reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate problems arisen at colored portions of colorfilters formed with ink dots by an ink-jet system.

FIG. 2A is a typical drawing viewed from the ink-applied surface of thecolor filter and illustrates the fact that since the precision ofink-droplet impact is poor, light-transmitting areas are not completelycovered with colored portions, and so a blank area 40 is generated dueto the positional deviation of the ink droplets. If such a sort ofdefect exists in pixels, an image formed through the color filterbecomes low contrast and indefinite. Reference numeral 2 in FIG. 2A or1A is a light screening area.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a production process of a color filteraccording to the present invention, in which each of colored portions 17is formed so as to completely cover light-transmitting areas 7, and isconstructed continuously over a plurality of the light-transmittingareas, i.e., in the form of a stripe. Since light-screening areasbetween the light-transmitting areas are also covered with the coloredlayer by constructing the colored portions in such a stripe form, it ispossible to avoid the occurrence of any blank area. Therefore, such acolor filter is preferred because an image formed through the colorfilter becomes vivid. Incidentally, a recording direction and thearrangement of pixels of R, G and B colors upon the formation of thestripe-like colored portions by an ink-jet system are not limited tothose of the method illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

A preferable process for continuously forming the above-describedcolored portion over a plurality of the light-transmitting areas willthen be described.

The present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation. As aresult, it has been discovered that it is important to adjust thewettability of a color filter base by ink, which is determined by theproperties of both an ink used and a surface of the color filter base(an ink-applied surface). More specifically, if the hydrophilicity ofthe ink-applied surface is low upon the formation of the stripe-likecolored portion, the width of the stripe formed becomes uneven, andso-called constricted parts are hence caused in places. In this case, ablank area is consequently caused like FIG. 2B even if the coloredportion is formed in the stripe form for preventing the occurrence ofthe blank area. Therefore, the contrast of an image formed through sucha color filter is lowered.

FIG. 2B illustrates the occurrence of the blank area due to theconstricted parts 60 caused in the case where the hydrophilicity of theink-applied surface is low. In particular, on torn-off portions 70 atwhich the degree of the hydrophilicity is lower (portions easier torepel ink), a stripe may be partially broken, and so alight-transmitting area of the base may be completely exposed in somecases. The occurrence of a blank area due to such a phenomenon is not aproblem offered by the pigment dispersing process heretofore used in theformation of color filters, but a specific problem offered upon theformation of color filters by the ink-jet system.

As described above, when a colored portion is formed in the stripe formfor avoiding the occurrence of blank areas due to the poor precision ofink-droplet impact, the mere arrangement of ink droplets in the stripeform is not enough. It is hence necessary to adjust the wettability ofthe base at the ink-applied surface to an optimum value. For doing so,it is necessary to suitably adjust the surface tension of an ink usedand the hydrophilicity of the base surface. Preferred conditions thereofare shown below.

Surface tension of ink: 20 to 60 dyne/cm, preferably 24 to 55 dyne/cm,more preferably 28 to 50 dyne/cm.

Surface of a color filter base: formation of an ink-receiving layer by ahydrophilic polymer, or use of a glass or plastic base from which fatsand oils have been removed by washing.

It is preferable to suitably select both conditions, thereby forming thestripe-like colored portions by the ink-jet system. The adjustment ofthe surface tension of an ink within the preferred range described abovecan be achieved by selecting the kind and amount of a water-solublesolvent added to the ink.

Examples of the preferred solvent added to the ink include alkylalcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl alcohol, ethylalcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butylalcohol and tert-butyl alcohol; amides such as dimethylformamide anddimethylacetamide; ketones and ketone alcohols such as acetone anddiacetone alcohol; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane;polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polypropyleneglycol; alkylene glycols the alkylene moiety of which has 2 to 6 carbonatoms, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol,triethylene glycol, thiodiglycol, hexylene glycol and diethylene glycol;1,2,6-hexanetriol; glycerol; lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols,such as ethylene glycol monomethyl (or monoethyl) ether, diethyleneglycol monomethyl (or monoethyl) ether and triethylene glycol monomethyl(or monoethyl) ether; N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone and1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone; and the like.

A surfactant such as a nonionic surfactant or an anionic surfactant mayalso be used. The surface tension of the ink to which a variety of thesewater-soluble solvents and/or the surfactant has been added may bemeasured by means of a Wilhelmy's surface tension balance or the like.

The viscosity of an ink suitable for the ink-jet system is within arange of from 1.2 to 20 cP, preferably from 1.5 to 10 cP, morepreferably from 1.5 to 8 cP in view of the ejection property of the ink,the spread of an ink dot upon the impact of an ink droplet, or the like.

In order to make the surface of a color filter base hydrophilic asdescribed above, thorough washing of a glass surface may satisfy.However, it is preferable to form a film of each of the followingcompounds on the base surface. As examples of such compounds, may bementioned synthetic resins such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polyurethane, carboxymethylcellulose,polyester, polyacrylic acid (esters), hydroxyethylcellulose,hydroxypropylcellulose, melamine resins and modified products of thesepolymers; and natural resins such as albumin, gelatin, casein, starch,cationic starch, gum arabic and sodium alginate, to which, however, arenot limited. Of these, cellulose derivatives such ashydroxypropylcellulose are particularly preferably used. A plurality ofthese compounds may be used at the same time.

The combination of the ink composition with the hydrophilic base asdescribed above can prevent the occurrence of blank areas due to theconstricted parts as illustrated in FIG. 2B. More preferably, it is moreeffective that an initial contact angle formed between them be 60° orlower, more preferably 50° or lower.

The initial contact angle as used herein means a contact angle measuredimmediately after the ink comes into contact with the base surface,preferably, within 1 minute after the contact. Contact angles measuredafter time longer than this limit goes on are affected by theevaporation of components in the ink, for example, water, and are hencenot preferred. The amount of an ink droplet upon the measurement of theinitial contact angle may be optional. However, the initial contactangle is preferably measured in an amount of 10 μl or smaller because ittends to be affected by gravity if the ink droplet grows to a certainextent, and so the measurement may possibly become imprecise.

The initial contact angle may be directly measured by means of acommercially-available goniometer or the like.

A process such as spin coating, roll coating, bar coating, spray coatingor dip coating may be used for forming the films of the above-describedcompounds on the ink-applied surface.

As colorants (coloring materials) contained in inks used for forming thecolored portions of R, G and B, there may be used various dyes orpigments heretofore used in ink-jet recording methods. Of these, organicpigments are preferably used from the viewpoint of improving heatresistance and light fastness, and the like. As a method of formingblack matrices serving as light-screening areas in this embodiment, maybe mentioned, in the case where the black matrices are directly providedon the base, a method in which a metal film is formed on the base bysputtering or vacuum desposition, and this film is patterned by aphotolithographic process, or in the case where the black matrices areprovided on the resin composition, a patterning method by a generalphotolithographic process using a black resist, to which, however, arenot limited in this invention.

In the above-described embodiment, an example that a base for the colorfilter is equipped with the black matrices has been described. However,the production process according to the present invention can be appliedto a color filter used in a liquid crystal panel of a so-called BM onarray type, in which the black matrices are mounted on a base oppositeto the color filter in the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a TFT color liquid crystalpanel in which the color filter according to the present invention hasbeen mounted. The color liquid crystal panel is formed by uniting acolor filter base 1 and a base 12 opposite to the color filter base 1and charging a liquid crystal compound 10 in a space between the bases.TFT (not illustrated) and transparent pixel electrodes 11 are formed inthe form of a matrix inside the base 12. A color filter 9 is arranged ata position opposite to the pixel electrodes 11 inside the other base 1.A transparent counter (common) electrode 15 is formed over on the colorfilter 9. Orientation films 13 are further formed within the surfaces ofboth bases. Liquid crystal molecules can be oriented in a fixeddirection by subjecting these films to a rubbing treatment. Polarizingplates 14 are bonded to the outer surfaces of both glass bases. Theliquid crystal compound 10 is charged in a space (about 2 to 5 μm)between these glass bases. As a back light 16, a combination of afluorescent lamp and a scattering plate (both, not shown) is used. Theliquid crystal compound 10 is caused to function as a shutter forchanging the transmittance of rays from the back light 16, therebymaking a display. Reference numeral 6 is a protective layer, 3 a resinlayer, 2 a black matrix and 17 colored portions, respectively.

Another embodiment of the present invention will then be described byreference to the drawings.

FIGS. 4A to 4F show a flow sheet illustrating another production processof a color filter for liquid crystals according to the presentinvention, and illustrate an example of the construction of the colorfilter for liquid crystals according to the present invention.

In the present invention, a glass base is generally used as a base.However, the base is not limited to the glass base so far as it hasproperties required of the color filter for liquid crystals, such astransparency and mechanical strength.

FIG. 4A illustrates the formation of black matrices as light-screeningareas on a glass base 1 having light-transmitting areas 7 (apertures). Aresin composition, the wettability by ink and/or the ink absorptivity ofwhich is lowered at its light-exposed portions by irradiation orirradiation and a heat treatment, is then applied on the base 1 on whichthe black matrices 2 have been formed, and is prebaked, as needed, toform a resin layer 3 (FIG. 4B). Incidentally, an example that the layerof the resin composition is reacted by the irradiation alone isdescribed in this embodiment. However, a resin composition to besubjected to both irradiation and heat treatment may also be used. Noparticular limitation is imposed on the process for the formation of theresin layer, and a coating process such as spin coating, roll coating,bar coating, spray coating or dip coating may be used.

The resin layer is then subjected to patterned exposure in the form ofstripes at portions corresponding to the areas to be screened from lightby the black matrices 2 using a mask 4 having openings in the form of astripe, thereby reacting the resin to obtain color mixing-preventingwalls 8 (exposed portions) (FIG. 4C). Thereafter, the resin layer iscolored in R, G and B colors at the same level using an ink-jet head 5(FIG. 4D). The inks applied are dried as needed.

As the photomask 4 used upon the patterned exposure, there is used aphotomask having openings for exposing the resin layer in the stripeform at portions corresponding to the areas to be screened from light bythe black matrices 2. In view of the need of ejecting an ink in a rathergreat amount to prevent the failure in coloring at a boundary betweenthe black matrix and the aperture 7 as the light-transmitting area, atthis time, it is preferable to use a mask having openings narrower thanthe light-screening width of the black matrix.

As the inks used in the coloring, both coloring matter inks and pigmentinks may be used. As the ink-jet system, a bubble-jet type making use ofan electrothermal converter as an energy-generating element or apiezo-jet type making use of a piezoelectric element may be used. Acoloring area and a coloring pattern may be optionally preset.

FIGS. 5A and 5B each illustrate the color filters according to thepresent invention viewed from above the base. The patterned exposure maybe performed either in the stripe form as illustrated in FIG. 5A or inthe matrix form as illustrated in FIG. 5B.

FIGS. 6A and 6B each illustrate exemplary coloring methods.

FIG. 6A illustrates a method in which pixels having the same color arecolored by dividing the pixels in portions, while FIG. 6B illustrates amethod in which pixels having the same color are continuously colored.In order to prevent the failure in coloring in the longitudinaldirection of the pixel, the pixel may preferably be colored withconsecutive ink dots as illustrated in FIG. 6B. However, the coloring isnot limited to such a method. In this embodiment, an example that theblack matrices are formed on the base has been described. No particularproblem is however offered even when the black matrices are formed onthe resin layer after the formation of the resin layer or the coloring,or on a base opposite to the color filter base. The form thereof is notlimited to this embodiment. As examples of a methods of forming theblack matrices, may be generally mentioned a method in which a metalfilm is formed on the base by sputtering or vacuum evaporation, and thisfilm is patterned by a photolithographic process, and a method in whicha black photosensitive resin is used to directly pattern it by aphotolithographic process, to which, however, are not limited.

The resin layer thus colored is then subjected to irradiation and/or aheat treatment to set it (FIG. 4E), and a protective layer 6 is formedon the resin layer as needed (FIG. 4F).

As the protective layer, may be used a resin material of thephoto-setting type, thermosetting type or light- and heat-curing type,or an inorganic film formed by vacuum evaporation, sputtering or thelike. Any material may be used so far as it has sufficient transparencyto be used in a color filter and withstands subsequent ITO-formingprocess, orientation film-forming process and the like.

In order to produce a color filter in which the colored portionscompletely cover the apertures defined by the black matrices and each ofthe colored portions is constructed continuously over a plurality of theapertures, i.e., in the form of a stripe, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, itis necessary to adjust the wettability of the color filter base by ink,which is determined by the properties of both an ink used and a surfaceof the color filter base (an ink-applied surface). For doing so, it isnecessary to suitably adjust the surface tension of the ink used and thehydrophilicity of the base surface. Preferred conditions thereof are asfollows:

The surface tension of the ink is within a range of from 20 to 60dyne/cm, preferably from 24 to 55 dyne/cm, more preferably from 28 to 50dyne/cm, and a hydrophilic polymer is used on a surface of the colorfilter base.

Suitable selection of both conditions permits the formation of thestripe-like colored portions by an ink-jet recording method. Asdescribed above, the adjustment of the surface tension of the ink withinthe preferred range described above can be achieved by selecting thekind and amount of a water-soluble solvent added to the ink. It is alsopreferable to preset an contact angle so as to fall within theabove-described range.

In this embodiment, the conditions for coloring in the stripe form maybe more generous than those in the first-mentioned embodiment becausethe color mixing-preventing walls are provided.

FIGS. 7A to 7F illustrate a production process of a color filter used ina liquid crystal panel in which black matrices are provided on a baseopposite to a color filter base.

A process in which the black matrices are provided on the opposite base,not on the color filter base is useful as a method of improving apertureefficiency.

A resin composition good in water-based ink absorptivity, said inkabsorptivity being lowered at its light-exposed portions by irradiationor irradiation and a heat treatment, is applied on a glass base 1illustrated in FIG. 7A, and is prebaked, as needed, to form a resinlayer 3 the ink absorptivity of which is lowered at its light-exposedportions by irradiation or irradiation and a heat treatment (FIG. 7B).

Patterned exposure is then conducted by means of a photomask 4, therebylowering the ink absorptivity of the resin layer 3 at the light-exposedportions 8 to form color mixing-preventing walls (FIG. 7C). Thereafter,unexposed portions of the resin layer are separately colored in R, G andB colors in the form of stripes using an ink-jet head 5 (FIG. 7D). Theinks applied are dried as needed. In order to prevent the failure incoloring, it is important to make the width of the light-exposed portion8, which is also the color mixing-preventing wall, narrower than that ofthe black matrix (not shown) provided on the opposite base.

FIGS. 8A to 8F illustrate a further production process of a color filterfor liquid crystals according to the present invention, and exemplifiesthe construction of the color filter for liquid crystals according tothe present invention.

FIG. 8A illustrates the formation of black matrices on a glass base 1having light-transmitting areas 7 (apertures defined by the blackmatrices). A resin composition, the wettability by ink and/or the inkabsorptivity of which is improved at its light-exposed portions byirradiation or irradiation and a heat treatment, is then applied on thebase 1 on which the black matrices 2 have been formed, and is prebaked,as needed, to form a resin layer 3 (FIG. 8B). Incidentally, an examplethat the layer of the resin composition is reacted by the irradiationalone is described in this embodiment. However, a resin composition tobe subjected to both irradiation and heat treatment may also be usedwithout problems.

After the resin layer is then subjected to patterned exposure in advanceusing a mask 4 to react the resin composition (FIG. 8C, in thisembodiment, unexposed portions 8' serve as color mixing-preventingwalls), the exposed portions of the resin layer are separately coloredin R, G and B colors in the form of stripes using an ink-jet head 5(FIG. 8D). The inks applied are dried as needed.

The resin layer thus colored is then subjected to irradiation and/or aheat treatment to set it (FIG. 8E), and a protective layer 6 is formedon the resin layer as needed (FIG. 8F).

As the photomask 4 used upon the patterned exposure, there is used aphotomask having openings for exposing the resin layer 3 in the stripeform at portions to be colored by an ink-jet head 5. In view of the needof ejecting an ink in a rather great amount to prevent the failure incoloring at a boundary between the black matrix and the aperture, atthis time, it is preferable to use a mask having openings wider thanthat of the aperture defined by the black matrices.

FIGS. 9A and 9B each illustrate color filters according to the presentinvention viewed from above the base. The patterned exposure may beperformed either in the stripe form as illustrated in FIG. 9A or in thematrix form as illustrated in FIG. 9B.

FIGS. 10A to 10E illustrate another production process of a color filterused in a liquid crystal panel in which black matrices are provided on abase opposite to a color filter base.

A resin composition, the ink absorptivity of which is improved at itslight-exposed portions by irradiation or irradiation and a heattreatment, is applied on a glass base 1 illustrated in FIG. 10A, and isprebaked, as needed, to form a resin layer 3 the ink absorptivity ofwhich is improved at its light-exposed portions by irradiation orirradiation and a heat treatment (FIG. 10B).

Patterned exposure is then conducted by means of a photomask 4, therebyimproving the ink absorptivity of the resin layer 3 at the light-exposedportions 8 (FIG. 10C). Thereafter, the exposed portions of the resinlayer are separately colored in R, G and B colors in the form of stripesusing an ink-jet head 5 (FIG. 10D). The inks applied are dried asneeded. In order to prevent the failure in coloring, it is important tomake the width of the color mixing-preventing wall (unexposed portion)8' narrower than that of the black matrix (not shown) provided on theopposite base.

FIGS. 11 and 12 each illustrate cross-sectional views of TFT colorliquid crystal panels in which the color filter according to the presentinvention has been mounted. Incidentally, the form thereof is notlimited to these embodiments.

A color liquid crystal panel is generally formed by uniting a colorfilter base 1 and a base 14 opposite to the color filter base 1 andcharging a liquid crystal compound 12 in a space between the bases. TFT(not illustrated) and transparent pixel electrodes 13 are formed in theform of a matrix inside the base 14. A color filter 9 is arranged insidethe other base 1 so as to array the coloring materials of R, G and B atpositions opposite to the pixel electrodes. A transparent counter(common) electrode 10 is formed over on the color filter 9. Blackmatrices 2 are usually formed on the side of the color filter base (FIG.11), but formed on the side of the opposite TFT base in a liquid crystalpanel of the BM on array type (FIG. 12). Orientation films 11 arefurther formed within the surfaces of both bases. Liquid crystalmolecules can be oriented in a fixed direction by subjecting these filmsto a rubbing treatment. Polarizing plates 15 are bonded to the outersurfaces of both glass bases. The liquid crystal compound 12 is chargedin a space (about 2 to 5 μm) between these glass bases. As a back light,a combination of a fluorescent lamp and a scattering plate (both, notshown) is generally used. The liquid crystal compound 12 is caused tofunction as a shutter for changing the transmittance of rays from theback light, thereby making a display. Reference numerals 8 and 8' denotea light-exposed portion and an unexposed portion, respectively. Otherreference numerals in FIGS. 11 and 12 have the same meaning as in FIG.3.

The present invention will hereinafter be described more specifically bythe following Examples. However, the present invention is not limited tothese examples only. Incidentally, all designations of "part" or "parts"and "%" as will be used in the following examples mean part or parts byweight and % by weight unless expressly noted.

EXAMPLE 1

A resin composition comprising hydroxypropylcellulose HPC-H (product ofNippon Soda Co., Ltd.) was applied as an ink-receiving layer by spincoating onto a glass base having a plurality of light-transmitting areasof 60 μm by 150 μm in size, and equipped with black matrices asillustrated in FIG. 1A, and prebaked at 90° C. for 10 minutes.

Using an ink-jet head, colored portions of R, G and B were then formedin the form of stripes each having a width of 80 μm with respective inksof R, G and B colors having the following formulation as illustrated inFIG. 1A.

The colored portions thus formed were then baked at 230° C. for 1 hour.A two-pack type thermosetting resin material was subsequently applied byspin coating onto the layer of the resin composition to give a coatingthickness of 1 μm. The thus-formed film was heat-treated at 250° C. or30 minutes to set it, thereby producing a color filter for liquidcrystals.

    ______________________________________                                        Ink formulation:                                                              ______________________________________                                        Ethylene glycol                        20%                                    Isopropyl alcohol                          5%                                 R, G or B dye described below                                                                                3%                                             Water                                                                         ______________________________________                                                             72%                                                       R (red) dye:  mixture of C.I. Acid Red 35/Acid Yellow 23                      G (green) dye: mixture of C.I. Acid Blue 9/Acid Yellow 23                     B (Blue) dye:  mixture of C.I. Acid biue 9/Acid Red 35.                  

The surface tensions of the above inks were measured and each found tobe 48 dyne/cm. They each had a viscosity of 1.8 cP. The initial contactangle of the inks was 30°.

EXAMPLE 2

A resin composition comprising hydroxypropylcellulose HPC-H (product ofNippon Soda Co., Ltd.) was applied as an ink-receiving layer by spincoating onto a glass base having a plurality of light-transmitting areasof 50 μm by 130 μm in size, and equipped with black matrices asillustrated in FIG. 1, and prebaked at 90° C. for 15 minutes.

Using an ink-jet printer, colored portions of R, G and B were thenformed in the form of stripes each having a width of 60 μm withrespective inks of R, G and B colors having the following formulation asillustrated in FIG. 1A.

The colored portions thus formed were then baked at 230° C. for 1 hour.A two-pack type thermosetting resin material was subsequently applied byspin coating onto the layer of the resin composition to give a coatingthickness of 1 μm. The thus-formed film was heat-treated at 250° C. for30 minutes to set it, thereby producing a color filter for liquidcrystals.

    ______________________________________                                        Ink formulation:                                                              ______________________________________                                        Ethylene glycol          20%                                                  Diethylene glycol                                2%                           Ethyl alcohol                                        2%                       R, G or B dye described below                                                                                      2.5%                                     Water                                                                         ______________________________________                                                                 73.5%                                                 R (red) dye:  mixture of C.I. Acid Red 35/Acid Yellow 23                      G (green) dye: mixture of C.I. Acid Blue 9/Acid Yellow 23                     B (Blue) dye: mixture of C.I. Acid b ue 9/Acid Red 35.                   

The surface tensions of the above inks were measured and each found tobe 58 dyne/cm. They each had a viscosity of 1.9 cP. The initial contactangle of the inks was 28°.

Comparative Example 1

A color filter for liquid crystals was produced in the same manner as inExample 1 except that the following inks were used in place of the inksused in Example 1.

    ______________________________________                                        Ink formulation:                                                              ______________________________________                                        Ethylene glycol                        20%                                    R, G or B dye (the same as in Example 1)                                                               3%                                                   Water                                                                         ______________________________________                                                               77%.                                               

The above inks each had a surface tension 66 dyne/cm and a viscosity of1.8 cP. The initial contact angle of the inks was 35°.

Comparative Example 2

A color filter for liquid crystals was produced in the same manner as inExample 2 except that the following inks were used in place of the inksused in Example 2.

    ______________________________________                                        Ink formulation:                                                              ______________________________________                                        Diethylene glycol         20%                                                 R, G or B dye (the same as in Example 2)                                                                  2.5%                                              Water                                                           77.5%.        ______________________________________                                    

The above inks each had a surface tension 62 dyne/cm and a viscosity of1.7 cP. The initial contact angle of the inks was 37°.

The color filters for liquid crystals produced in Examples 1 and 2 wereobserved through a light microscope. As a result, defects such as blankareas at the individual colored portions of R, G and B and lowering ofcontrast were not observed.

Besides, each of the color filters thus obtained was used to conduct aseries of operations such as formation of ITO, formation of orientationfilms and charging of a liquid crystal material, thereby producing acolor liquid crystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Using the thus-produced color liquid crystal panel, various imagepatterns were formed on the panel to evaluate the images in definition.Good results were shown as to all the images. In particular, the panelproduced on the basis of Example 1 was excellent in image definition.

With respect to images formed through the color filters according to thecomparative examples, on the other hand, the blank area-shiningphenomenon was often recognized. Therefore, such images were low incontrast and lacking in definition.

Examples 3 to 6 and Comparative Examples 3 to 6

Tests similar to that in Example 1 were then performed under theircorresponding conditions shown in the following Table 1. Besides,comparative tests with Examples 3 to 6 were performed in the same manneras in Comparative Example 1 except that their corresponding conditionsshown in Table 1 were used.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                               Ink formulation                                                                         Material for ink-receiving layer                             ______________________________________                                        Ex. 3    The same as in                                                                            Polyvinyl acetal                                                             Example 1                                                 Ex. 4           The same as in                                                                          Carboxymethylcellulose                                           Example 1                                                        Ex. 5      The same as in                                                                               Hydroxyethylcellulose                                                Example 1                                                    Ex. 6      The same as in                                                                                 Polyethyl acrylate                                                Example 2                                                     Comp.     The same as in                                                                              The same as in Example 3                              Ex. 3    Comp. Example 1                                                      Comp.     The same as in                                                                            The same as in Example 4                                Ex. 4      Comp. Example 1                                                    Comp.     The same as in                                                                               The same as in Example 5                             Ex. 5    Comp. Example 1                                                      Comp.     The same as in                                                                              The same as in Example 6                              Ex. 6    Comp. Example 1                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The color filters for liquid crystals produced in Examples 3 to 6 wereobserved through a light microscope. As a result, defects such as blankareas at the individual colored portions of R, G and B and lowering ofcontrast were not observed.

Besides, each of the color filters thus obtained was used to conduct aseries of operations such as formation of ITO, formation of orientationfilms and charging of a liquid crystal material, thereby producing acolor liquid crystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Using the thus-produced color liquid crystal panel, various imagepatterns were formed on the panel to evaluate the images in definition.Good results were shown as to all the images.

With respect to images formed through the color filters according toComparative Examples 3 to 6, on the other hand, the blank area-shiningphenomenon was often recognized. Therefore, such images were low incontrast and lacking in definition.

EXAMPLE 7

Onto a glass base 1 on which black matrices 2 had been formed asillustrated in FIG. 4A, a resin composition comprising 97 parts of anacrylic copolymer having the following composition:

    ______________________________________                                        methyl methacrylate                                                                              50 parts                                                   hydroxyethyl methacrylate                                                                                        30 parts                                   N-methylolacrylamide                                                                                                  20 parts                              ______________________________________                                    

and 3 parts of triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate dissolved inethyl cellosolve was applied by spin coating to give a coating thicknessof 2 μm, and prebaked at 90° C. for 10 minutes, thereby forming a resinlayer 3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 on the black matrices were then subjectedto patterned exposure in the form of stripes through a photomask 4having stripe-like openings narrower than the width of the black matrix2. The thus-exposed resin layer was further subjected to a heattreatment for 1 minute on a hot plate heated to 120° C., thereby formingcolor mixing-preventing walls 8. Using an ink-jet head 5, unexposedportions of the resin layer 3 were colored on the pattern of a stripeform with consecutive dots of dye inks of R, G and B colors. The inksthus applied were then dried at 90° C. for 5 minutes. The resin layerwas subsequently subjected to a heat treatment at 200° C. for 60 minutesto set it.

A photo-setting resin composition comprising an epoxyacrylate and aphoto-induced initiator was further applied by spin coating onto thecolored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, and prebaked at 90° C.for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6. The thus-formedprotective layer 6 was then wholly exposed to set it, thereby producinga color filter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was observed througha light microscope. As a result, defects such as color mixing, colorirregularity and failure in coloring were not observed.

This color filter for liquid crystals was used to produce a TFT liquidcrystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 11. The operation of this panelrevealed that vivid color images were able to be displayed.

EXAMPLE 8

Onto a glass base 1 on which black matrices 2 had been formed, a resincomposition comprising 97 parts of an acrylic copolymer having thefollowing composition:

    ______________________________________                                        methyl methacrylate                                                                             50 parts                                                    N-methylolacrylamide                                                                                                  50 parts                              ______________________________________                                    

and 3 parts of triphenylsulfonium triflate dissolved in ethyl cellosolvewas applied by spin coating to give a coating thickness of 2 μm, andprebaked at 90° C. for 20 minutes, thereby forming a resin layer 3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 on the black matrices 2 were thensubjected to patterned exposure in the form of stripes through the samephotomask 4 as that used in Example 7. The thus-exposed resin layer wasfurther subjected to a heat treatment for 1 minute on a hot plate heatedto 120° C., thereby forming color mixing-preventing walls 8. Using anink-jet head 5, unexposed portions of the resin layer 3 were colored onthe pattern of a stripe form with consecutive dots of dye inks of R, Gand B colors. The inks thus applied were then dried at 90° C. for 5minutes. The resin layer 3 was subsequently subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 60 minutes to set it.

A two-pack type thermosetting resin composition (Optomer SS-6688,product of Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) was then applied by spincoating onto the colored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, andprebaked at 90° C. for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6.The thus-formed protective layer 6 was then subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 30 minutes to set it, thereby producing a colorfilter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was observed througha light microscope. As a result, defects such as color mixing, colorirregularity and failure in coloring were not observed.

This color filter for liquid crystals was used to produce a TFT liquidcrystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 11. The operation of this panelrevealed that vivid color images were able to be displayed.

EXAMPLE 9

Onto a glass base 1 on which black matrices 2 had been formed, a resincomposition comprising 98 parts of an acrylic copolymer having thefollowing composition:

    ______________________________________                                        methyl methacrylate 60 parts                                                  N-methoxymethylacrylamide                                                                                   40 parts                                        ______________________________________                                    

and 2 parts of diphenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate dissolved in ethylcellosolve was applied by spin coating to give a coating thickness of 2μm, and prebaked at 90° C. for 20 minutes, thereby forming a resin layer3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 on the black matrices 2 were thensubjected to patterned exposure in the form of stripes through the samephotomask 4 as that used in Example 7. The thus-exposed resin layer wasfurther subjected to a heat treatment for 1 minute on a hot plate heatedto 120° C., thereby forming color mixing-preventing walls 8. Using anink-jet head 5, unexposed portions of the resin layer 3 were colored onthe pattern of a stripe form with consecutive dots of dye inks of R, Gand B colors. The inks thus applied were then dried at 90° C. for 5minutes. The resin layer 3 was subsequently subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 60 minutes to set it.

A two-pack type thermosetting resin composition (Optomer SS-6688,product of Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) was then applied by spincoating onto the colored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, andprebaked at 90° C. for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6.The thus-formed protective layer 6 was then subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 30 minutes to set it, thereby producing a colorfilter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was observed througha light microscope. As a result, defects such as color mixing, colorirregularity and failure in coloring were not observed.

This color filter for liquid crystals was used to produce a TFT liquidcrystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 11. The operation of this panelrevealed that vivid color images were able to be displayed.

EXAMPLE 10

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7F, a resin composition comprising 98parts of an acrylic copolymer having the following composition:

    ______________________________________                                        acrylic acid        3 parts                                                   methyl methacrylate                                                                                                   50 parts                              hydroxyethyl methacrylate                                                                                        27 parts                                   N-methylolacrylamide                                                                                                 20 parts                               ______________________________________                                    

and 2 parts of triphenylsulfonium triflate dissolved in ethyl cellosolvewas applied by spin coating onto a glass base 1 to give a coatingthickness of 2 μm, and prebaked at 90° C. for 20 minutes, therebyforming a resin layer 3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 were then subjected to patterned exposurein the form of stripes through the same photomask 4 as that used inExample 7. The thus-exposed resin layer was further subjected to a heattreatment for 1 minute on a hot plate heated to 120° C., thereby formingcolor mixing-preventing walls 8. Using an ink-jet head 5, unexposedportions of the resin layer 3 were colored on the pattern of a stripeform with consecutive dots of dye inks of R, G and B colors. The inksthus applied were then dried at 90° C. for 5 minutes. The resin layer 3was subsequently subjected to a heat treatment at 200° C. for 60 minutesto set it.

A photo-setting resin composition comprising an epoxyacrylate and aphoto-induced initiator was then applied by spin coating onto thecolored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, and prebaked at 90° C.for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6. The thus-formedprotective layer was then wholly exposed to set it, thereby producing acolor filter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was united to a baseon which black matrices had been formed on the side of a TFT base asillustrated in FIG. 12, and a liquid crystal compound was charged in aspace between both bases, thereby producing a liquid crystal panel. Theoperation of this panel revealed that vivid color images were able to bedisplayed. In addition, defects such as color mixing, color irregularityand failure in coloring were not observed in this color filter.

EXAMPLE 11

Onto a glass base 1 on which black matrices 2 had been formed asillustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8F, methylphenylpolysilane was applied byspin coating to give a coating thickness of 2 μm, and prebaked at 90° C.for 20 minutes, thereby forming a resin layer 3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 were then subjected to patterned exposurein the form of stripes through a photomask 4 having stripe-like openingswider than the width of an aperture 7 defined by the black matrices 2,thereby forming color mixing-preventing walls 8.

Using an ink-jet head 5, the exposed portions of the resin layer 3 werecolored on the pattern of a stripe form with consecutive dots of dyeinks of R, G and B colors. The inks thus applied were then dried at 90°C. for 5 minutes. The resin layer was subsequently subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 60 minutes.

A two-pack type thermosetting resin composition (Optomer SS-6688,product of Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) was then applied by spincoating onto the colored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, andprebaked at 90° C. for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6.The thus-formed protective layer 6 was further subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 60 minutes to set it, thereby producing a colorfilter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was observed througha light microscope. As a result, defects such as color mixing, colorirregularity and failure in coloring were not observed.

This color filter for liquid crystals was used to produce a TFT liquidcrystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 11. The operation of this panelrevealed that vivid color images were able to be displayed.

EXAMPLE 12

Onto a glass base 1 on which black matrices 2 had been formed, a resincomposition comprising 97 parts of an acrylic copolymer having thefollowing composition:

    ______________________________________                                        methyl methacrylate                                                                              30 parts                                                   phenoxyethyl methacrylate                                                                                        60 parts                                   hydroxyethyl methacrylate                                                                                        10 parts                                   ______________________________________                                    

and 3 parts of triphenylsulfonium triflate dissolved in ethyl cellosolvewas applied by spin coating to give a coating thickness of 2 μm, andprebaked at 90° C. for 20 minutes, thereby forming a resin layer 3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 to be colored were then subjected topatterned exposure in the form of stripes through the same photomask 4as that used in Example 11. The thus-exposed resin layer was subjectedto a heat treatment for 1 minute on a hot plate heated to 120° C.,thereby forming color mixing-preventing walls 8. Using an ink-jet head5, the exposed portions of the resin layer 3 were colored on the patternof a stripe form with consecutive dots of dye inks of R, G and B colors.The inks thus applied were then dried at 90° C. for 5 minutes. The resinlayer 3 was subsequently subjected to a heat treatment at 200° C. for 60minutes to set it.

A two-pack type thermosetting resin composition (Optomer SS-6688,product of Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) was then applied by spincoating onto the colored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, andprebaked at 90° C. for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6.The thus-formed protective layer 6 was then subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 30 minutes to set it, thereby producing a colorfilter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was observed througha light microscope. As a result, defects such as color mixing, colorirregularity and failure in coloring were not observed.

This color filter for liquid crystals was used to produce a TFT liquidcrystal panel as illustrated in FIG. 11. The operation of this panelrevealed that vivid color images were able to be displayed.

EXAMPLE 13

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10E, methylphenyl-polysilane was appliedby spin coating onto a glass base 1 to give a coating thickness of 2 μm,and prebaked at 90° C. for 20 minutes, thereby forming a resin layer 3.

Portions of the resin layer 3 were then subjected to patterned exposurein the form of stripes through the same photomask 4 as that used inExample 11, thereby forming color mixing-preventing walls 8. Using anink-jet head 5, the exposed portions of the resin layer 3 were coloredon the pattern of a stripe form with consecutive dots of dye inks of R,G and B colors. The inks thus applied were then dried at 90° C. for 5minutes. The resin layer 3 was subsequently subjected to a heattreatment at 200° C. for 60 minutes to set it.

A photo-setting resin composition comprising an epoxyacrylate and aphoto-induced initiator was then applied by spin coating onto thecolored base to give a coating thickness of 1 μm, and prebaked at 90° C.for 30 minutes, thereby forming a protective layer 6. The thus-formedprotective layer 6 was then wholly exposed to set it, thereby producinga color filter for liquid crystals.

The color filter for liquid crystals thus produced was united to a baseon which black matrices had been formed on the side of a TFT base asillustrated in FIG. 12, and a liquid crystal compound was charged in aspace between both bases, thereby producing a liquid crystal panel. Theoperation of this panel revealed that vivid color images were able to bedisplayed. In addition, defects such as color mixing, color irregularityand failure in coloring were not observed in this color filter.

The use of the production process of a color filter for liquid crystalsaccording to the present invention permits the economical production ofcolor filters for liquid crystals, which are free of defects such ascolor mixing, color irregularity and failure in coloring and hence highin reliability. This process is particularly useful in producing colorfilters with a colored pattern in the form of stripes.

While the present invention has been described with respect to what ispresently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded to the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A color filter comprising:a base; a black matrixproviding discrete, separate light-transmitting areas; a colored resinlayer comprising a plurality of colored portions, wherein an individualcolored portion covers a plurality of the light-transmitting areas; andthe resin layer further comprising color mixing-preventing walls betweenthe colored portions.
 2. A process for producing a color filteraccording to claim 1 by ejecting droplets of an ink from an orifice byan ink-jet system to apply a colorant onto a base havinglight-transmitting areas, thereby coloring the light-transmitting areas,which comprises applying the ink droplets in such a manner that acolored portion is continuously formed over a plurality of thelight-transmitting areas.
 3. A process for producing a color filteraccording to claim 1 by ejecting droplets of an ink from an orifice byan ink-jet system to apply a colorant onto a base havinglight-transmitting areas, thereby coloring the light-transmitting areas,which comprises the steps of applying a hydrophilic polymeric compoundonto the base, and applying the ink droplets onto the base tocontinuously form a colored portion over a plurality of thelight-transmitting areas.
 4. The process according to claim 2 or 3,wherein the base has light-screening areas.
 5. The process according toclaim 2 or 3, wherein an initial contact angle formed between the inkand a surface to which the ink is applied is 60° or lower.
 6. Theprocess according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an initial contact angleformed between the ink and a surface to which the ink is applied is 50°or lower.
 7. The process according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the surfacetension of the ink falls within a range of from 20 to 60 dyne/cm.
 8. Theprocess according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the surface tension of theink falls within a range of from 24 to 55 dyne/cm.
 9. The processaccording to claim 2 or 3, wherein the surface tension of the ink fallswithin a range of from 28 to 50 dyne/cm.
 10. The process according toclaim 2 or 3, wherein the viscosity of the ink falls within a range offrom 1.2 to 20 cP.
 11. The process according to claim 2 or 3, whereinthe viscosity of the ink falls within a range of from 1.5 to 10 cP. 12.The process according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the viscosity of the inkfalls within a range of from 1.5 to 8 cp.
 13. The process according toclaim 2 or 3, wherein the surface of the base, to which the ink isapplied, is hydrophilic.
 14. The process according to claim 2 or 3,wherein an ink of a red, green or blue color is used as the ink.
 15. Acolor filter produced by the process according to claims 2 or
 3. 16. Theprocess according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophilic polymeric compoundis at least selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone,polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polyurethane,carboxymethylcellulose, polyester, polyacrylic acid (esters),hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, melamine resins, modifiedproducts of these polymers, albumin, gelatin, casein, starch, cationicstarch, gum arabic and sodium alginate.
 17. The color filter accordingto claim 1, wherein the base has light-screening areas.
 18. The colorfilter according to claim 17, wherein the width of the colormixing-preventing wall is narrower than that of the light-screeningarea.
 19. The color filter according to claim 17, wherein the colormixing preventing walls are water-repellant.
 20. The color filteraccording to claim 1, wherein the resins constructing the colormixing-preventing walls and the colored portions are the same.
 21. Thecolor filter according to claim 1, wherein the color mixing-preventingwalls and the colored portions are formed on the same layer.
 22. Thecolor filter according to claim 1, wherein the colored portions areformed with ink dots.
 23. A process for producing a color filteraccording to claim 1 by ejecting inks using an ink-jet system toseparately color a base in red, green and blue colors in the form ofstripes, which comprises the steps of:(1) forming a layer of a resincomposition, the wettability by ink and/or the ink absorptivity of whichis lowered at its light-exposed portions by a light irradiationtreatment or light irradiation and heat treatments, on the base; (2)subjecting the resin layer to patterned exposure in the form of stripesor a matrix; (3) ejecting the inks using the ink-jet system toseparately color unexposed portions of the resin layer in red, green andblue colors; and (4) setting the colored portions of the resin layer bythe irradiation and/or the heat treatment.
 24. The process according toclaim 23, wherein the base has light-screening areas.
 25. The processaccording to claim 24, wherein the width of the exposed portion of theresin layer formed on the base is narrower than that of a portion to bescreened from light by the light-screening area.
 26. The processaccording to claim 23, wherein an initial contact angle formed betweeneach of the inks and the resin of the unexposed portions is 60° orlower.
 27. The process according to claim 23, wherein an initial contactangle formed between each of the inks and the resin of the unexposedportions is 50° or lower.
 28. A process for producing a color filteraccording to claim 1 by ejecting inks using an ink-jet system toseparately color a base in red, green and blue colors in the form ofstripes, which comprises the steps of:(1) forming a layer of a resincomposition, the wettability by ink and/or the ink absorptivity of whichis improved at its light-exposed portions by a light irradiationtreatment or light irradiation and heat treatments, on the base; (2)subjecting the resin layer to patterned exposure in the form of stripesor a matrix; (3) ejecting the inks using the ink-jet system toseparately color the exposed portions of the resin layer in red, greenand blue colors; and (4) setting the colored portions of the resin layerby the heat treatment.
 29. The process according to claim 28, whereinthe base has light-screening areas.
 30. The process according to claim29, wherein the width of the exposed portion of the resin layer formedon the base is wider than that of an aperture defined by thelight-screening areas.
 31. The process according to claim 28, wherein aninitial contact angle formed between each of the inks and the resin ofthe exposed portions is 60° or lower.
 32. The process according to claim28, wherein an initial contact angle formed between each of the inks andthe resin of the exposed portions is 50° or lower.
 33. The processaccording to claim 23 or 28, which further comprises forming aprotective layer on the resin layer having been set.
 34. The processaccording to claim 23 or 28, wherein the surface tension of each of theinks falls within a range of from 20 to 60 dyne/cm.
 35. The processaccording to claim 23 or 28, wherein the surface tension of each of theinks falls within a range of from 24 to 55 dyne/cm.
 36. The processaccording to claim 23 or 28, wherein the surface tension of each of theinks falls within a range of from 28 to 50 dyne/cm.
 37. A color filterproduced by the process according to claim 23 or
 28. 38. A liquidcrystal panel comprising the color filter according to any one of claims1, 17 to 22 and 19, a base provided in an opposing relation with thecolor filter and a liquid crystal compound charged in a space betweenboth bases.